Class of 2014 Boasts Stellar Group of OMA&D Ambassadors

They studied abroad in more than five countries, held internships at some of the nation’s top companies, conducted research around the globe, and provided campus tours and student panels to more than 1,000 pre-college students.

The 2014 graduating seniors who worked as Ambassadors for the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity Recruitment & Outreach team certainly accomplished a great deal during their undergraduate experience at the University of Washington. Now they are setting off to accomplish even more in a variety of fields and careers.

For instance, Michelle Lee will work on a water sanitation project in Myanmar with the Living Earth Institute. Her future plans also include going to medical school to become a physician’s assistant. Jonny Paniagua will work as a medical scribe for Sea Mar Community Health Centers and pursue an M.D. in pediatric pulmonology. Dorender Dankwa will work with the Global Health Brigade in Nicaragua and Doug Ta’a has a corporate internship lined up with Nordstrom.

This year’s graduating class also includes Kamaria Carnes (pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership), Asalemo Crawford (pursuing a master’s in Pacific Islander studies at the University of Hawai’i), Maria Christina Garcia (will teach and pursue a post-baccalaureate degree in speech and hearing sciences), Courtney Hernandez (pursuing a master’s in social work), BreAnna Jones (plans to continue her photography and videography while working at Microsoft and the Erie City Youth Mission) , Sione Lister (plans to work with the Pipeline Project Americorps and pursue a Ph.D.), Bri Ramos (pursuing a master’s in indigenous public health), Evan Silvers (will work at State Farm Insurance Company) and Avalon Valencia (will work at the Department of Social Health Services and pursue a master’s in social work).

Ambassadors assist the OMA&D Recruitment & Outreach staff in its efforts to develop and execute outreach programs for underrepresented minority middle and high school students throughout the state. They are selected through a competitive application process and spend the year working with conferences, community outreach activities, college fairs and campus visits.

“The end of the academic year is always bittersweet,” said Merissa Tatum, assistant director for Recruitment & Outreach. “But I am beyond excited for our graduating Ambassadors and the amazing opportunities that lie ahead for them.”